Manufacturing

Sensors in Manufacturing

Innovations in sensing technology are enabling improved real-time performance monitoring of manufacturing equipment and the quality of the foods and drinks produced. Multifunctional sensors monitor production line performance, relaying and assessing process parameters such as pressure, volume, temperature, moisture content, oxygen content and acidity.

Accessing our capability in printed and graphene based sensors, a distributed network can be permanently bonded either onto surfaces of existing machinery, or integrated into the core structure of new manufacturing components. The flexible nature of the sensors means that they are suitable to meet even the most challenging design constraints, and can be cost effectively mass produced. Real-time process monitoring can not only enhance food quality and consistency, but also significantly reduce the need for human involvement, meaning minimal downtime, faster manufacturing, less repair work, less waste and higher yields.

Novel Materials

Utilising our expertise in formulation and graphene, we can help companies develop and optimise functional coatings and composite materials for the food manufacturing sector. Companies can partner with CPI to test new processing technology for the pilot production of materials that are lighter, hard wearing, with enhanced robustness and longevity, or provide excellent functional properties such as non-stick surfaces, thermal stability and self cleaning performance.

In addition, CPI also has significant experience in the processing of bio-plastic materials derived from a number of waste sources in the food manufacturing supply chain.

Batch to Continuous Production

CPI has a track record of developing continuous processing technologies at pilot scale for the production of chemical and biological materials. Clients can engage with CPI to test, improve or refine their existing batch processes, or run systems based computer models, in order to identify better performing and more resource efficient continuous manufacturing methods.

Biomaterial produced from waste root crops

CPI helped to advance Cellucomp beyond early stage science and towards financing the construction of their own facilities for the production of Curran®, a novel fibre technology derived from waste root crop product.

Cellucomp first approached CPI to test feasibility for the scale-up production of Curran®. This translated lab scale development towards commercial scale manufacture, achieving final product specification and meeting the requirements of the end-user. Process development included investigating downstream processing techniques for extracting and purifying the product from the reaction mixture.